A Wapato man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for attempting abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 12 on the Yakama Reservation. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastain handed down the sentence to Shawn De Sun Speedis, 19, who will also serve five years of supervised release after his imprisonment and must register as a sex offender.
According to court records, the incident occurred on October 31, 2024. After returning home from trick-or-treating and while her mother was away, Speedis asked an eleven-year-old girl if she wanted to see and touch his penis. When the child refused, Speedis continued trying to coerce her before exposing himself. The victim repeatedly told him she did not want to participate.
United States Attorney Pete Serrano commented on the case: “The sexual abuse of children is some of the most heinous criminal conduct that we face as a community. My office will continue to work alongside our tribal, state and federal partners to stand up for victims of sexual crimes and against those who seek to prey on the most vulnerable people in our community. No one can give the victim back what the Defendant took, but this significant sentence, along with Defendant’s ongoing supervision upon release, and his required registration as a sex offender reflects our commitment to prioritize these investigations and these victims.”
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office, said: “Mr. Speedis turned Halloween evening last year into a profoundly traumatic experience for this child: a predator seeking to sexually abuse her in her own home. We hope this prison sentence and sex offender registration will serve as a warning to all that this behavior has long-lasting consequences.”
This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program. The initiative focuses on preventing and responding to cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous individuals by coordinating efforts among federal agencies and Tribal law enforcement.
The case was investigated by both the FBI and Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse prosecuted it.
